Morning journal and courier., 1887-09-22
NEW YORK JANIrORS.
Some Reasons Why Their Lot is Not
 Altogether Happy.

Some Reasons why Their Lot is Not Altogether Happy.
 From the New York Sun It would hardly be supposed by the gene ral observer, but it is none the less a fact, that with the increase in the number of big
 buildings the number of ianitors is decreas- ing. For instance, where thirteen janitors
 were formerly employed in the block which
 includes the palatial structure of the Equita ble Life Assurance society, now there are
 only three. Big buildings have diminished the number of janitors, just as machinery
 has made it possible for few artisans to do
 the work of many. But power and wealth
 have not always come with monopoly, and the janitors of the big buildings do not get pay proportionate to the immensity of the structures under their guardianship. 'sA janitor's life is not altogether happy one," said the janitor of a large downtown building devoted to banks, insurance compa- nies and lawyers offices. 'His chief enemy is the office boy. An office boy who sets his mind upon 1t can secure the discharge of a
 janitor. How? lie musses up his employ CTS office, scatters papers about, gets the em- ployer angry and lays it all on the janitor.
 The boy protests with the innocence of 6
 heathen Chinee with a deck of cards up his
 sleeve that he found the office just that way
 when he came in. His employer believes
 him and complains of the janitor and if the
 thing is persisted in he perhaps makes it a personal grievance. It's of little use for the ianitor to deny the charge of negligence If he does he is put down for a liar as we'll as a drone, and his departure is likely to be hastened.'
 "But do not janiIors hold pretty steadily to their places?'
 ''No, the contrary is the fact" replied the veteran janitor. "I have been here nearly twenty eight years, but Lean think of but one other building even among those of re-
 cent construction in which there have not
 been several changes of janitors."
 "What is the reason?'
 "One reason is that the duties of ianitor
 are very difficult to attend to properly, al- though contrary impression is prevalent. As have pointed out, he must keep on good terms with the tenants of the building, and this requires tact as we'll as industry, and even these will not always accom- mplish it if there is a malicious small boy around. Another req l. son is that the duties of the place are not healthy. A ianitor goes into an office after the occupants have gone, and at cer ain sea- sons of the year he finds the windows closed. He opens the windows and begins sweeping While the draught of cool air plays upon him from without, his lungs inhale the cloud of dust that rises within the apartment.
 This cannot be healthy, and pulmonary and other diseases are the frequent result" "But you have at least the satisfaction of living high up in the cool air in these hot summer months"
 ''That is true, but there again the janitors lot is not ss happy as it seems. The air up there is cool 1t is true, but it is also laden with all the foulness and effluvium that nat urally rises from below; and on damp, hot days it is extremely oppressive near the top. For my own idea of comfort give me the first floor. It is certain that the families of janitors are frequently visited by sickness and death, and this does not speak we'll for the healthfulness of their quarters. But
 janitors have one advantage, and tbat is con-
 parative secluson for their families from the
 associations of the street. They are enabled
 to bring up their children in comparative
 privacy"
 "How are janitors paid!"
 ''In the largest buildings by the owners,
 at rates varying from one hundred to one
 hundred and fifty dollars a month; in the
 smaller buildings by the tenants, at from
 two to one hundred dollars tenant. In the
 large buildings offices are let with the ser
 vices of the janitor. Of course the janitor's
 rent is free. Not only the cleanliness, but the preservation of building depends much upon having the right kind of janitor. See that marble" pointing to a well-preserved marble flooring, "but for the care with which have that washed night after night it would present very different appearance, and soon be ingrained with dirt that could not be got out. After awhile owners will ! learn better than most of them know now
 how much the value of their property dee pends on the janitor, and then janitors will be more carefully selected, and hold thei1 places longer when selected"